NORTHWICH Victoria never got the result their performance deserved as the new Midland League Premier Division season got going.
Vics, beaten in the play-offs final in their last competitive outing, did everything right but score as their season-opener against Romulus ended 0-0 at the Apec Taxis Stadium in Runcorn.
Harvey White, one of many new signings, came closest to finding the net with a 35-yard piledriver that rattled the crossbar.
"We created enough chances to probably win two games," said Vics coach Ross Speight afterwards.
"We hit everything but the back of the net – bar, their keeper made a few good saves to be fair to him and was probably their man of the match.
"We created enough chances, looked really solid, kept a clean sheet which we’ve not done for a while, so we’ll take the positives out of that.
"But it’s just frustrating.
"I wasn’t going to have too much of a go at the lads after the game because they’d done everything we asked them to do – it was just that final bit, the final pass or final shot, or final touch.
"I just think we need to shoot a bit earlier as well.
"It’s frustrating, but we started off with a good performance and we’ll take the positives out of it.
"Some of the stuff we’ve been doing in training we could see on the pitch.
"It was just that final bit."
Whyte added: "A lot of new lads have joined this season, myself as well, so we’re all getting used to each other.
"I think it will take a little bit of time for us to gel.
"In the second half we had a lot of chances but it just wouldn’t drop for us.
"Stick with us and the results will come."
Vics, who lost Mama Djabi to an injury in the 19th minute, return to action at Whitchurch Alport on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, in the same division, Winsford United opened their campaign with a 2-0 success against Dudley Town at Barton Stadium.
Dudley lost their skipper Dominic Perkins in the 40th minute after hacking down Jordan Johnson for a second time.
The visitors proved difficult to break down though and Blues were grateful to their influential skipper Ste Jenyons when he rose high to head home the opener after 75 minutes.
It was only in the fourth minute of added time that second-half substitute Mykah Skervin sprinted through to score the settler.
Winsford visit Cheadle Town on Tuesday.
Barnton got their North West Counties First Division season off to a losing start.
They were beaten 2-1 at home by Stafford Town.
Jordan Sherlock gave The Villagers a second-minute lead but Eshan Greer squared the score again four minutes later.
Sam Lynch netted Stafford's winner in the 55th minute.
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